As long as you are using it as a top dressing and not trying to work it into your soil, you can put it on immediately. It will begin to break down where you place it. The only problem you would run into if you didn't compost it is if the tree is sick and you put the mulch around plants or trees that were susceptible to whatever it had. If you keep it in a pile it will heat up and I have seen some start on fire from the heat inside when they are not kept moist enough or turned. Yikes!
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2003 2:55 pm Posts: 46 Location: Fort Worth, Zone 8
Hey--do you have any pix of your freshly-mulched flower beds or whatever bursting into flame?? I guess that'd be pretty scary, if your house is flammable. (Yes, I'm just kidding about the bursting into flame bit;not about the house fire, no, never kid about that stuff). Seriously, it does sound wild. Hope no one was hurt.
_________________ The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's Heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.
Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932
Okay, I know it sounds goofy but yeah, it really did happen. It was a pile of fresh shredded wood about 4 feet tall and about 25 feet around. It was dumped and then nobody had time to spread it and it was out in the hot sun for a few weeks. Then one day it began to smoke and one of the guys ran out and pulled some off the top and poof! we had a flame . It went out pretty quicky but it sure was spooky. We all pitched in and soaked it down and pulled that thing apart toot sweet. It was the first time I'd actually seen it happen but I'd heard of it before. It won't be happening to me again. Unfortunately, nobody thought to run for a camera so you'll just have to take my word for it!
How long is shredded cedar tree mulch viable? I have some which has been stored in my shed for about a year. Also how long is it beneficial after it has been spread in beds and around shrubs?
Cedar mulch is viable so long as there is some of the natural oil in it, so use what's in your shed. It will stay viable for varying periods of time depending on how much weather it's subjected to. Lots of water washes out the oil faster and as it biodegrades it releases the oils too.
Hope this is helpful to you!
Kathe
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Okay, I know it sounds goofy but yeah, it really did happen. It was a pile of fresh shredded wood about 4 feet tall and about 25 feet around. It was dumped and then nobody had time to spread it and it was out in the hot sun for a few weeks. Then one day it began to smoke and one of the guys ran out and pulled some off the top and poof! we had a flame 
Unfortunately, nobody thought to run for a camera so you'll just have to take my word for it! 